IGF-1 LR3 vs Tesamorelin

Tesamorelin raises GH, which in turn raises the body’s own IGF-1. IGF-1 LR3 bypasses the whole axis and activates IGF-1 receptors directly, with reduced binding to IGF-binding proteins.

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IGF-1 LR3

A recombinant analogue of insulin-like growth factor-1 with an Arg3 substitution and N-terminal extension that sharply reduces binding to IGF-binding proteins.

BEST STUDIED FOR

GH secretagogues

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Tesamorelin

Tesamorelin is a stabilised synthetic analogue of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH).

BEST STUDIED FOR

GHRH-analogue and visceral-fat research

R1 199View product →

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Price, purity and dispatch

Compare	IGF-1 LR3	Tesamorelin10 mg · more sizes
Price	—	fromR1,199
Cost per mg	—	R120 / mg
Purity (Janoshik)	—	On request
Stock	—	Restocking
Dispatch	—	When restocked
Certificate	—	Request CoA
Literature	—	3 papers →
Research focus	GH secretagogues	GHRH-analogue and visceral-fat research
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Prices are read live from the catalogue. Cost per mg is the vial price over its stated mg. Purity is shown only where the certificate is published. Every compound is supplied for laboratory research only.

SIDE BY SIDE

	IGF-1 LR3	Tesamorelin
The key difference	Acts directly at the IGF-1 receptor	Acts upstream, at the pituitary GHRH receptor
Class	GH secretagogues	GH secretagogues
Mechanism	Most circulating IGF-1 is held by IGF-binding proteins.	Tesamorelin is a stabilised synthetic analogue of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH).
Status	A laboratory and animal-research reagent; not an approved medicine. Found in black-market "performance" products.	An approved medicine (US) for excess abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy; research use elsewhere.
Reported safety signals	In pigs it suppressed endogenous GH, IGFBP-3 and IGF-1; IGF-1 signalling carries hypoglycaemia risk; black-market products are frequently mislabelled.	Label-level trial data exist for its approved indication, including IGF-1 elevation and injection-site effects.
A key study	Identified a His-tagged LR3-IGF-I in a black-market product, illustrating mislabelled performance products. (Growth Horm IGF Res 2010, PMID 20675162)	A pooled analysis of two phase-3 trials reported that tesamorelin reduced visceral adipose tissue in HIV patients with excess abdominal fat. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2010, PMID 20554713)

WHEN TO RESEARCH WHICH

Tesamorelin for physiological GH-axis research with clinical data; IGF-1 LR3 for direct receptor studies in cell culture. Both are discussed here strictly as research compounds; nothing on this page is medical advice or a dosing guide.

REFERENCES (PUBMED)

[IGF-1 LR3] Detection of His-tagged Long-R³-IGF-I in a black market product — Growth Horm IGF Res 2010. PMID 20675162
[IGF-1 LR3] Long [R3] insulin-like growth factor-I reduces growth, plasma growth hormone, IGF binding protein-3 and endogenous IGF-I concentrations in pigs — J Endocrinol 1997. PMID 9488001
[IGF-1 LR3] Effect of recombinant porcine IGFBP-3 on IGF-I and long-R3-IGF-I-stimulated proliferation and differentiation of L6 myogenic cells — J Cell Physiol 2004. PMID 15254966
[Tesamorelin] Effects of tesamorelin (TH9507), a growth hormone-releasing factor analog, in HIV-infected patients with excess abdominal fat: a pooled analysis of two multicenter, double-blind placebo-controlled phase 3 trials — J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2010. PMID 20554713
[Tesamorelin] Effect of tesamorelin on visceral fat and liver fat in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation: a randomized clinical trial — JAMA 2014. PMID 25038357
[Tesamorelin] Effects of tesamorelin, a growth hormone-releasing factor, in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation: a randomized placebo-controlled trial with a safety extension — J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2010. PMID 20101189

FREQUENTLY ASKED

What is the difference between IGF-1 LR3 and Tesamorelin?

Tesamorelin raises GH, which in turn raises the body’s own IGF-1. IGF-1 LR3 bypasses the whole axis and activates IGF-1 receptors directly, with reduced binding to IGF-binding proteins.

What is the regulatory status of IGF-1 LR3 and Tesamorelin?

IGF-1 LR3: A laboratory and animal-research reagent; not an approved medicine. Found in black-market "performance" products. Tesamorelin: An approved medicine (US) for excess abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy; research use elsewhere.

What safety signals have been reported?

IGF-1 LR3: In pigs it suppressed endogenous GH, IGFBP-3 and IGF-1; IGF-1 signalling carries hypoglycaemia risk; black-market products are frequently mislabelled. Tesamorelin: Label-level trial data exist for its approved indication, including IGF-1 elevation and injection-site effects.

Which studies is this comparison based on?

For IGF-1 LR3: “Detection of His-tagged Long-R³-IGF-I in a black market product” (PMID 20675162); “Long [R3] insulin-like growth factor-I reduces growth, plasma growth hormone, IGF binding protein-3 and endogenous IGF-I concentrations in pigs” (PMID 9488001); “Effect of recombinant porcine IGFBP-3 on IGF-I and long-R3-IGF-I-stimulated proliferation and differentiation of L6 myogenic cells” (PMID 15254966). For Tesamorelin: “Effects of tesamorelin (TH9507), a growth hormone-releasing factor analog, in HIV-infected patients with excess abdominal fat: a pooled analysis of two multicenter, double-blind placebo-controlled phase 3 trials” (PMID 20554713); “Effect of tesamorelin on visceral fat and liver fat in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation: a randomized clinical trial” (PMID 25038357); “Effects of tesamorelin, a growth hormone-releasing factor, in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation: a randomized placebo-controlled trial with a safety extension” (PMID 20101189).